Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Jan 06/06) - Video games aren't just for the young boys any more. Those boys have grown up and a new generation of gamers has been born.

Kristian Binder of Inuvik is a life-long gamer, and is the proud owner of a brand new X-Box 360. Binder is one of many young people in the region who spend their time getting to know the controller. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

For people like Kristian Binder of Inuvik, video games are nothing new.

The 24-year-old has been a gamer since age 9 and has a good knowledge of console maintenance.

"I own every main console made," says Binder.

Binder says his game collection has become "massive." He still buys the newest games, but has slowed down his gaming since 1999.

"My music interests have been taking my attention," he says.

While old-school gamers rely on console gaming, the newer players can also enjoy the luxury of decent hand-held games.

Sony recently released its portable machine named the Playstation Portable (PSP).

Lance Gray of Inuvik owns Sony's new hardware and says it's great for travelling.

"It's good when I'm on the move," says Gray.

Gray travels to Yellowknife for sports and takes advantage of that opportunity to buy games as well.

"The last game I bought was in Wal-Mart," says Gray. "It's cheaper than buying them in Inuvik."

Gray says getting together with friends is the best time to play.For some people, getting a group of fun-loving people together and "gaming out" is the best way to pass away time in the cold North.

Jenna Keogak of Inuvik is one person who finds solace in the grip of the controller.

"I've been playing since I was little," says Keogak.

She says the best games are competitive ones, like racing or fighting games.

"Beating people up is always fun," says Keogak.

But she also says excessive violence in games sends a bad message to younger people.

"There is way too much violence in games today," says Keogak. "I don't like the shooting."

Among these gamers in the region, knowledge of the new X-Box is common.

The mega-force known as Microsoft has released its second-generation console to the market, dubbed the X-Box 360.

Few gamers in the Arctic own one of these next generation machines, but many have questions.

Concerned gamers heard the new X-Box has glitches and ruined some game discs.

Binder owns the new console and had advice for people who were also lucky enough to secure one.

He says moving the console while it's running can damage the internal drives.

"It is a very complex machine," says Binder. "It's delicate, like a computer."

He says getting his new X-Box was as easy as going to the store for some cheese buns and shortbread.

"I had a feeling it would be there sooner or later," says Binder.

The store in Inuvik put out the console the night before and Binder picked it up the next morning.

Binder says he has his own reasons for justifying the new machine.

"My old X-Box wasn't working properly," he says.

"That, and I'm addicted to technology."